Water Disinfection Agent - Chloramines

City of Bismarck to Change Water Disinfection Agent

Beginning in early April 2013, the City of Bismarck will change from using chlorine to chloramines to protect the quality of the drinking water in its water distribution system. This change is being made to improve the quality of the water that is provided.

Chloramines are a combination of chlorine and ammonia and provide longer lasting disinfection properties than the chlorine that is currently being used. Chloramines also reduce the formation of potentially harmful disinfection byproduct chemicals that are formed when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic material in the water. This change is being made because of recent changes to Federal Safe Drinking Water regulations. The change will affect all customers in the Bismarck area, including those served by the City of Lincoln and South Central Regional Water District.

Most customers should notice very little difference after the initial switch has been made. The main difference in the water will be that some of the methods that are currently used to remove chlorine from water will not remove chloramines. Customers will receive an informational brochure in the mail.

There are three groups that need to take special care when using chloraminated water: kidney dialysis patients, fish, pond, and aquarium owners, and specialized businesses using high quality treated water. As with chlorinated water, steps must be taken to remove the chloramines from water before it is used for kidney dialysis or for fish tanks, aquariums or fish ponds. Medical facilities and pet stores are aware of the methods that will remove chloramines.